Question

John Peter Zenger’s libel trial: resulted from his publication of news stories questioning the intelligence of the king. probably would not have ended in his acquittal if he had attacked someone other than the colonial governor. set back freedom of the press when it ended in his conviction and imprisonment for printing the truth. showed that the public was not yet ready to accept the idea of freedom of speech. led to the overturning of the Licentiousness Act of 1694.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. probably would not have ended in his acquittal if he had attacked someone other than the colonial governor.

Explanation:

John Peter Zenger was born on the 26th of October, 1697 in Impflingen, Germany. Peter helped to establish freedom of the press in colonial America. He was known as a German printer and a journalist who printed the New York Weekly Journal in New York city, United States of America. Peter Zenger’s publication centers around highlighting and harshly pointing out highly corrupt actions such as election rigging and the exploration of the New York Harbor by the French enemies. These allegations were made against William Cosby, who was the royal governor of New York city.

Consequently, on the 17th of November 1734, Peter was arrested for a libelous suit made against him by the royal governor of New York, William Cosby.

However, he was subsequently discharged and acquitted by the jury, these resulted in a victory for the freedom of press in the English Colony of North America controlled by English kings.

Hence, John Peter Zenger’s libel trial probably would not have ended in his acquittal if he had attacked someone other than the colonial governor. Peter Zenger was acquitted by the jury because the assortment of crimes he published against Cosby were based on facts.